Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-06-25
THE LIQUOR QUESTION.
AOAa LI0sRsas IN rnls CUussY Ii1fl
rSAks AsO faAR row.

Judgs Coilins aivss HIS views 10 Apeil 1857,
Jasgss were Pabiic Servants and sAssSA
be Guided b. Public SsstinsaS
Tho numher Of licensed hotels restaurants
and liquor stores In the county Of Lancaster
to-day II 500 This court has bssn rsluct-
ant TO increase the number Of licensed
places because the wants OF the community
did not, In their judgment, need additional
hotel accommodations II was not always
90 in this county. The files Of the Papers
published halt century sgo show that there
were at that time 400 licensed places In the
county, although the population then was
ouly one half Of what It 10 now.
Judge Collins In 1887 It appears made On
effort to reduce the number, for at the April
sessions OF 1887 In his charge 70 the Grand
Jury, in discuning the license question,
he said
at has been supposed by some that tavern
licenses were intended, by the legislature, to
be regarded chiefly % sources OF revenue to
the government, and consequently applica-
ticns were TO he regarded with favor and the
number OF taverns multiplied for the pur.
pcee Of aiding the public treasury. Under
this view Of the subject, men msde spplica-
tions for licenses, who have neither Q room 10
spare nor bed to give for the sccommoxia.
tion OF guest, nor . stable 70 sholter Q horse
from the storm. and II their applications are
rejected, they esteem Il Q hardshin and sup.
posed themselves deprived Of lawful right
BY others tavern keeping Ia viewed - IN
occu patton or trade encouraged BY the pub
procuring livelihood, requiring little out.
lay In money OF skill, and to be resorted 10
10 caeee where more promising speculaaions
have failed. l am not willing to belisve that
lima - ekA ~kl~
are held by the Intelligent portion o. the
community. A. we'll might IL be argued
that officers are created and their emolu.
ments paid BY the commonwealth, for the
Toey grow out Of the organisation and
necessity of government The ta1 upon
them, among us 70 incident 10 their exist
cnos, but beara no proportion TO the sum
drswn from the treasury. So Of tavern
licenses-the prios paid for them bears no
proportion to the sum drawn BY the holders
from the pockets Of their customers, In q
| multitude OF cases without any valuable
equivalent Tue price Of the iicense u inci.
dent 70 y. Great ,n.nos the object Of Il 4
ulating tavern licenses among us, from the
| earliest date 70 tho present moment exhibits
| but one Uniform sentiment on the subject
That is, that the licenses II granted, and the
tavern created mainly for the public con
veuisuce, and placed under legal discipline
TO guard the privilege nom abusA The
private emoluments the holder receives u In
tended q . compensati for the ssSvices hs
ness and comfort While the public conven
tenco demands that public houses should b
maintained for the accommodation OF suct
Whose business calls them tor the time beipl
from their own homes, and while the Law "a
thorises such houses, at the same time 1t reg
ulates them. 1t requires that ksspers o
such houses should not only not encourag
but absolutely discourage and prevent q
disorderly conduct, drum kenneo and gamh
ling In their respective houseA under psu
} atty which II uniformly entorcsd woul,
guard against abuses thaS too ireQueuuy q
exist All men are permitted u maintai
good order, decsucy and propriety Of coodus
( required BY the Law 10 do 20 and srs held =
. spouetbas II they do not BY the statute ,
. 1854 the Legislature evidently designed [
conhne courts 70 . more strioa aud careful Il
qutry Into the ftnsss OF applicants ior tavor
called for and tho sutficisuCy of the sccou
|, modaiton for the con ven ienoe and comfort
b travellers and strsugera In ordinary CO..
courts are Justihsd on acting on the Petiuo
. atness, and accommodations. but higher sv
dence at the discretion Of the court may
. demanded. In some counties Standing rule
. have 6sen edoptsd, - 10 additional svldool
. required for the removal OF lioensa In Z
a county Of Wayne tho rule 10: "Evsry sppl
can't for lioenso who shall have keps IN In
or tavern the year presiding bis applicasto
ahall produce to the court the certitc cats OF
+, least twelve reputable citizens Of the boroua
J or township In which such Inn or tavern
proposed to 10 kept, setting forth In additi0
70 the requirements OF the oct of asse .nbI
. that 20 far - they know and balievs the o.
. plicant has during the preceding year, kept
. quiet and orderly house that he hiss n,
. permitted bis neighbour 70 mset and tipp
therein. nor has he sold, or given, or pe
|. | mieted To he given, any Intoxicating drink I
any uppler, or person notoriously intemPe
The Judge In conclusion sa,d hs DID n
, propose to adopt this rule at present. but
suttctently acquAiDted with the manner
, | which landlords OF this county regard an
| perform their duty TO ascertain the neoesi,
, | OF IT. adoption. This court views the lioenl
| question - one OF no common magnitude
- worthy the serious reflection OF every reE
, utablo ctttsen OF the coQuty, when ho placl
hts name 70 Q certificate u facta, asking u
|. | court to grant Q tavern license The c0u
must look tor Information from citizens Wh
, Will stand affected BY their actA II the oou
. In any instance b deceived, the blame 10 Q
, thoee unworthy persOus who practicsd q
. deception. He hsd presented the subject
, length for the purpose OF exciting enquiE
: among the citizens whether four hundrs
, tAverns are necessary TO the public weltaI
: and convenience. and whether they desil
the court 10 diminish or increase the nun
/. Dor. The judges are public servants. and d.
|, sire to carry into execution the wise IN
. benevolent designs of the Legislature upo
. this subject, but they muse look TO publ
sentiment TO aid and sustain them ia u
| effort